An UPinion on RIVALRY: Ateneo-Lasalle the Musical

Let me get this straight, I’ve only been going to Philippine theatre (as in really going) this past year. I don’t claim to have a passion for musicals, have any acting talent, have had theatre workshops, nor can I sing the OCR of whatever uso broadway musical there is right now… or ever. In other words, this is coming for a baby theatre-goer..ehem.. a gorgeous but baby theatre-goer—just to get it straight. haha!

So having said that, I liked…nay..LOVED the performance I saw last night!

Rivalry:Ateneo-Lasalle the Musical was a continuous surprise from start to finish. I can’t really say much about the what the musical is about as it’s pretty apparent. Duh. Read the Title.

What I’m going to say though is that the play was set in 1968, the Lasallians were called Lasallites, Miriam was Maryknoll, there was NCAA instead of UAAP, aaaaand basketball players were(are) still hot commodities that girls fawn over.

As the blog title suggests, I’m from UP and I was “aware” of this “rivalry” during my time in college (of which I had the biggest crush on BJ Manalo..ehem)  but I’ve never really understood it. Never really wanted to, to tell  you the truth. And after watching the musical, I’m still not sure if I understand the rivalry.. really, but I appreciate it for what it is. How weird does that sound, right?  But it makes sense..at least in my brain. Haha!

Basta, after watching the production I thought to myself— Ateneo and Lasalle are lucky to have each other. Not sure if that was the message of the musical, but that’s what I got!

yay for the cast!

What else is there to say? The actors were all amazing! The leads all seemed new (or maybe this is because baby nga ako at di ko sila kilala..ewan). Oh but..that the dude playing Quito was also the actor who played Equus and I kept on getting snippets of Equus in my brain (it  was very distracting), but not to say that he wasn’t effective in his role here. His smitten approach to love and his “the moves” would have melted this UP heart. And if you’ll watch, you’ll know why.   The lead actress, which I remember hearing was named Athena was very likeable, good pipes too!   The actors playing Tommy and Paco were very impressive. Slow clap moment when they were singing while doing elevated feet push-ups. IKR?!?  Try it during regular push-ups lang, ANG HIRAP KAYA!!!

Great performances also from the supporting cast!  The parents were so 1968 but still so current. A very special mention goes to Mr. Noel Trinidad, because he was just EPIC! And I say this not only because he’s THE Noel Trinidad but because his part of the play was golden. And that song was my favorite too for obvious reasons! Kudos to Mr. Joel Trinidad for writing it!

lyricist, director, composer

I  also can’t imagine liking this show without the wonderful chorus. I love the Maryknoll girls and their song that goes… “please??” at the end. I wanted to sing it just with a different school in there. haha!   There was never a dull moment with the choreography and direction (ang galeng mo Mr. Del Mundo!)—from the epic blocking, lighting and movement of the song — What’s the story?–to the ROTC scene, to the locker scenes, or to the pre-basketball AND basketball scenes. All I could say was WOW!

I believe Mr. Ed Gatchalian said it best when he mentioned that the idea was to give people something that they would want to watch.

This baby theatre-goer likes this idea. This was one of my most enjoyable nights in Philippine theatre. More of these please!

SO GO WATCH IT!

PS. Although…if there’s one thing I would have loved to have seen… it would have been shorter shorts for the basketball players.  And sana may programme since I really don’t know who is which.. etc. Sorry I couldn’t put names!  

WATCH IT.

The show will run in the Meralco Theater from January 27 to 29, February 5-8, 8-12 and 15-19, 2012.  Show starts at 8pm on Wednesdays to Saturdays and additional 3pm matinee shows on Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets are available with Ticketworld (www.ticketworld.com.ph) or call 891-9999, or just go to Meralco theater and watch!

Seussical: Theatre for Young Audiences

I managed to catch an earlier screening of this Repertory Philippines musical c/o Jeeves with Carla and Blooey. I’m not the biggest fan of Dr. Seuss, but it was an enjoyable experience with the colorful costumes, lovable characters, and catchy songs abounding!

The musical is an amalgamation of most of Dr. Seuss’ works put in song.  Notable favorites include “It’s Possible” (I can hear the laughter of the 3 people I watched this with), “Amayzing Mayzie/Amayzing Gertrude”, “Notice Me, Horton”, “Alone in the Universe”, and of course—”All For You”.

Highly recommended for kids and kids at heart!   I’ll be watching this musical again on the 27th, naaddict ako tawaging…”young audiences” e!

Seussical will be showing in Greenbelt Onstage from August to December 2011. For tickets you can contact, (2) 571-6926. Or logon to Ticketworld.

Sidenote: If you want to watch the 27th pm show, methinks there are still Orchestra Side tickets available for P450, click on this for more information. 

Endnote: I need a pillsberry bush. haha!

The Flirt and What I Wore

THE FLIRT

So I went to Bali and all the time I was there I was reading Clash of Kings. Yes, from the Song of Ice and Fire Series by George RR Martin. Then I read Wicked for the book discussion we’re having this month,  after that the plan was I would go back to the Seven Kingdoms, but this book, the Flirt by Kathleen Tessaro happened.

I remember buying this from Libreria Pilipinas, right most shelf, right corner, where all the “interesting” books are. You know my usual type of reading material before the book club. I picked it up and I finished it in roughly 6 hours.

Enihoodles, the plot is simple, it’s about a young handsome man joining a flirting agency. YEP. A flirting agency— “professional massagers of the female ego”.

The way each chapter changes in perspective was done quite seamlessly. The characters were relate-able. And yes, it does deal with some cliched things about love, with some parts of it I had to underline, haha! (sorry, i’m really corny like that) It tells of the story of people in relationships dealing with happiness, reality, married life, lack of focus, the dream of being in love, unrequited love, and being too good looking for your own good.

It’s an easy read. Guaranteed.

Oh, and it also gave me the best pick-up line ever. Well, not really a pick-up line but one of those things you stash in the “must use this sometime” pile you have at the back of your head.

Here are some excerpts:

On making perfume for a man:

“Nick cocked his head to one side. “This I will tell you for nothing: without exception it’s always too much sweetness that kills a good perfume. There should be space between the different notes; gaps that only imaginon can fill. And just like in life, young man, it’s the shit that adds depth. Now, to the real test.” He clapped his hands and a small King Charles spaniel came racing down the steps and into the room.

 ”Chanel here is a female. The feminine sense of smell is the most refined. Now,” he picked her up, “if the dog bites you it’s a bad brew. But if she doesn’t, we’re really onto something.”"

On Love NOT Conquering All:

“But what it does is throw us into the midst of life with the best intentions possible; give us courage, passion, hope; make wonderful fools of us–always pushing us to be more than we would normally be. More than any other experience love carves away at us, like great lumps of marble sculpted into works of art. That, I think, is what they mean by ‘love conquers all.’ It doesn’t transcend life. But gives it integrity, a noble aim, no matter what the result.”

On What a Woman Wants:

“..What do you think the most potent, erotic part of a woman is? … It’s the imagination, the imagination Hughie. If you can capture a woman’s imagination, then you will have her. But imagination is a strange creature. It needs time and distance to function properly.”

On Love:

“Romantic love is an illusion, Hughie. It can be manipulated, twisted, piled up like a bunch of fun-house mirrors. The very nature of it is deceptive. It promises closeness but the only thing it ever really reveals is the dreams and fears of the person with the obsession. That;s why it’s so easy to control.”

“Love is a mirror; a reflective surface projecting who we wish we were. What we’re waiting for is someone to come along who will show us something new about ourselves that we can adore. And then, because someone loves us, in turn, we love ourselves. Does that make sense?”

**Libreria Pilipinas is found at Cubao X.

——————-

LOVE, LOSS, AND WHAT I WORE

I watched this play last Wednesday in RCBC with absolutely no idea what it was about. Someone did tell me— like the Vagina Monologues but a little bit like Sex and the City.

Let’s face it. The title gets you. If you’re a girl, you would know that sometimes it’s the things that you wore in certain occasions that you remember, not even really what happened.

For example, I remember the shirt I wore when I dressed up to go to my first date, or the shirt I wore when I was on my way to the funeral parlor because they told me my dad died.

Yes, things like those.

I love how the play dealt with so many things that women go through– the bra, the finding what to wear, the dressing room among others.

I was surprised at how much I laughed especially at Bituin Escalante’s parts. I need to learn that Latina accent–pronto! She managed to capture different personas it seemed— quite effortlessly.

Teresa Herrera also surprised me with giving heartfelt moments. “The Boots– i’m keeping the boots.”

Menchu Lauchengc0-Yulo’s performance during the last parts of the play touched me, as I could relate at a certain level. She’s always really awesome and I love watching her. I would have to add, almost the whole of the play I was looking at her arms.. They were gorgeous! I was jealous!

Cathy Azanza-Dy, I know i’ve watched before but I can’t quite place where was also great, her part about heels and thinking probably was one of my favorite things in the play. She discussed Birkenstock.. and I am quite enamored about Crocs and Crocs seems to be the new Birkenstock. haha! In the whole play, she was the most I could relate to.

The story was held together by Gingy played by Jay Valencia-Glorioso. I loved her artlessness when speaking, she reminded me a little of my grandmother, which I think was the point of her role. And yes, I did think about my grandmother when she was saying things about her grandchildren. So she was very effective!

All in all, the play was enjoyable and humorous. It’s a something that friends, sisters, mothers, and daughters should watch– to laugh, to remember.. and to bond.

**Love, Loss and What I Wore by Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron runs from July 14 to 17 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, 4F RCBC Plaza, Ayala Ave. corner Gil Puyat Ave., Makati City. Tickets available via Ticketnet or call 891-9999. Or if you have en sogo deals.. i just saw some tickets on sale at 50%.

TY to Jeeves de Veyra for the invite.